I think you nailed this -- the 800 pound gorilla in the room we've all known about for some time now.

For the record, the Citizen guys picked out these lines as the ones Paddock was/is after:
Kelly/D.Heatley/Spezza
Vermette/D.Alfredsson/Fisher
Eaves/'Dee'Robitaille/Neil
Donovan/D.McAmmond/Schubert

(not sure why as Neil sure did play with Heatzza but maybe that was one of the special teams? Can't remember)
GeeIWonder | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 2:07 am | #

Since the beginning of the season, I've thought they should toy with this 1/2 line combo:

Heatley/Kelly/Alfredsson
Vermette/Spezza/Fisher

Kelly's already proven that he can play on the big line, and do a fine job. Put the team's best disher out with Fish and Vermette, and you've got a second line that can be creative, fast, and gritty.
Audioscapist | 11.21.07 - 5:23 am | #

I too would split up Spezza and Heatley, just to see how that works and because conventional wisdom says they must play together at all times, no exception. Its always fun to bet against conventional wisdom.

I would try:

Heatley/Fisher/Alfredsson

Fisher's aggressive forecheck will create more opportunities, and he's a much better passer and shooter than he typically gets credit for.

Vermette/Spezza/Eaves

Eaves is a good finisher, and Spezza can certainly get him the puck. Vermette provides the necessary transition speed to make this line deadly (just don't play them against the other team's top line).

McAmmond/Kelly/Neil

Defensively responsible with reasonable offensive upside. Neil is the wildcard.

Schubert-McGratton/Robitaille/Donovan

Decent 4th line that can play quality minutes, including in a checking role.
Anshu | 11.21.07 - 10:58 am | #

I wouldn't split up Spezza and Heatley. They were apart for most of the game against the Leafs, then they get re-united the next game and make scorers out of Kelly and Neil. 3 points each for Speatley!
Indrew | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 11:31 am | #

Those 11 goals you have for the second line are somewhat misleading. Both of Robitaille's goals were scored playing with Alfredsson and Heatley while Spezza was out as were two of Fisher's goals and Eaves goal Monday was playing with Alfredsson. That is 5 of the 11 goals from that second line that weren't really second line goals.
David Johnson | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 12:06 pm | #

And if you add those 5 goals to the top line you get 30/51= 58.8%.
David Johnson | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 12:12 pm | #

HAHAHA still top-line heavy! You guys suck!

GO(lf) LEAFS GO(lf)!

What a fucking brutal season. I can't wait for TFC to come back.
PPP | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 12:20 pm | #

Well it's a start. I haven't crunched the numbers yet, but the Citizens 4 seem have a decent trade off of grit/energy as you move away from the elite skill and still has ridiculous skill in Vermette/Fish/Alfie on the 'second' line.

They don't need to reinvent themselves. They just need to find a couple of modes so that it's harder for one of a handful of Western Conference teams to shutdown that top line. And they need to know if they can do that well before the trade deadline.
Anonymous | 11.21.07 - 12:30 pm | #

That was me -- guess I lost my cookies. Cooo-kiiie!
GeeIWonder | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 12:31 pm | #

Don't give up PPP, this season will be better than whenever Sundin gets moved at the deadline or retires.
Chemmy | 11.21.07 - 1:01 pm | #

The Sens should do what Paul Maurice does. He sets lines by drawing names out of a hat. Aside from Sundin and Blake who have played together most of the time, everyone else gets shuffled around more than a deck of cards in a Las Vegas casino.
David Johnson | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 1:06 pm | #

Umm, don't look now Chemmy...
GeeIWonder | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 1:07 pm | #

BLENDER!

Why do coaches feel the need to employ it so often? I think MacT was the first guy I read being called the blender by the BoA boys but it applies to Maurice and apparently Paddock recently registered with Sears and got his from Eugene.

I want to see the Ron Popeil approach to lines: set 'em and forget 'em.
PPP | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 1:18 pm | #

Sorry there David Johnson, the Sens do nothing that has anything to do with the Laughs.
We win
We make the playoffs
We play defense
We know our roles
We dominate
Sensin08' | 11.21.07 - 1:39 pm | #

le sigh...
Indrew | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 1:45 pm | #

But like the Leafs, they have never beaten a team from Toronto in the playoffs.
David Johnson | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 1:55 pm | #

We dominate

I thought the consensus was to keep bedroom activities out of the realm of acceptable topics.
PPP | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 2:28 pm | #

in that case, PPP, we'd have to eliminate all references to you Leaf fans getting fucked by MLSE.
THM | 11.21.07 - 2:35 pm | #

Whoooooaaaaaa! (Hand covering mouth a la rap battle Whoooooaaaaa!)
Don | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 2:41 pm | #

in that case, PPP, we'd have to eliminate all references to you Leaf fans getting fucked by MLSE.

THEY JUST DO IT BECAUSE THEY LOVE US!

They're really nice when they aren't drunk.

Or...

ummm Eugene Melnyk would fuck you guys but he's too busy killing people with his defective drugs.

And you're all ugly.
PPP | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 2:44 pm | #

We're beautiful on the inside. Words can't keep up down.
GeeIWonder | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 2:45 pm | #

No, words can't keep up down. Only gravity can.
PPP | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 3:51 pm | #